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Pissed off my GI....pardon the expression

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Posted 6/3/2009 8:31 PM (GMT -7)
Hello all,

Anybody got to the point with trying to make a determination of what is going on and in turn pissed off your GI?

I can be persistent (always in a nice way, honestly) and I had the ear of his wonderful nurse who would return calls and discuss things with me when I had a question.

They squeezed me in for an endoscopy a while back and since then she has not returned any of my calls. The endoscopy report was fine except for a hiatal hernia, but I continue to have many gastro issues that seem to be involving my UP less and less. So if you've seen any of my other posts, I am still on a quest to get a proper diagnosis of what is going on. Hasn't happened yet. 

My gut feeling is telling me something is definitely wrong with me. I have an abdomen CT scheduled in 11 days so should get some answers (good or bad) at that point.

Getting back to the GI, I got a letter from his office today telling me they've rec'd my calls but can not and will not return any calls. I do understand that the rel'ship I had with the nurse was unusual in that we'd chat about many things, not only GI issues. I rec'd much more from his wonderful nurse than most would and I guess it got to the point where this couldn't continue. Makes me sad, but I do understand where they are coming from.

Anybody else go too far in their quest for more info on their condition?

Posted 6/3/2009 9:08 PM (GMT -7)

First of all, if they have any issues with you, they should address it face to face rather than by a letter.
Seems to me that you would be better off finding a new GI. I cannot imagine having a doctor that is unwilling to return my calls or speak with me.

Good luck.

Posted 6/3/2009 10:52 PM (GMT -7)
i think you are a lot like i am....i get things in my head and they become obsescive.  i would just try to relax for the next 11 days till you ct.  I know it is hard, but worry does not change anything.  i have struggled with waiting for the past 6 yrs having had many scares with my children including a positive for cystic fybrosis in my daughter which turned out to be wrong.....I have had so many scares with my own health in which i knew i had cancer several times.....i had all the symptoms....weird lab results, all kinds of stuff....but everything has turned out ok...except for the UC.    Just try to relax and enjoy your family...pray and it will be ok.  I too struggle with these things....so i know where you are coming from....i'm sure your dr does not understands the stress and anxiety you are feeling.  Hope all goes well, relax.
Posted 6/4/2009 1:30 AM (GMT -7)
I agree with Bennie. Even the NHS returns my calls and their a free health service provided by the UK govenment. They have to deal with hundreds of patients. Its not a perfect system but if I become unemployeed I will really appriciate it. Meds will also be for free.
Posted 6/4/2009 3:15 AM (GMT -7)
Never ever once have I ever NOT got a phone call back from my GI's office. Even when they are at their busiest they would find time to call me back, maybe not the same day but definately the day after. But they always apologized for not getting back to me sooner.

Your conversation with the nurse may have been inappropriate on her part but that shouldn't stop the GI from contacting you. Something doesn't "smell" right with this scenario.
Posted 6/4/2009 11:35 AM (GMT -7)
Playing devil's advocate: How many times a day were you calling? I can't imagine receiving a letter like you describe unless a patient was expecting calls and attention far beyond what's considered reasonable, no matter how nice you may have been.
Posted 6/4/2009 12:02 PM (GMT -7)
Let me understand this; they sent you a letter saying they will not return yours calls??? Were you ever a bit hostile in any of your messages or calls?
Posted 6/4/2009 12:07 PM (GMT -7)
Did they say they will not see you as a patient anymore? If they are going to continue to treat you they will have to return some calls. I do understand from working in healthcare that if a patient calls multiple times every day calls cannot be returned...were you calling for medical reasons or personal?
Posted 6/4/2009 1:50 PM (GMT -7)
The nurse should not have been chatting with you on company time.

You got a letter from your GI's office telling you that they've rec'd your calls but can not and will not return any of them.

You did not force the nurse to chat with you. You deserve an explanation.
Posted 6/4/2009 5:39 PM (GMT -7)
It sounds like your doctor is "divorcing" you for whatever reason.
Are you sure you were not expecting too much of their time and attention, gratis?
Knowing they probably can't bill for phone time to answer questions. Would you pay for the phone time?
Posted 6/4/2009 5:51 PM (GMT -7)
My experience witb docs is that, whether they are conventional or alternative, if they are paid by insurance, they need to keep the bums (i.e. patients, pun intended in the case of GI's) moving i.e. quick in and out, move on to the next, and don't like to talk at length or respond to too many queries. The only way one can talk and talk and talk, is to pay a doc or practitioner who doesn't take insurance and charges by the hour. Insurance doesn't pay by the hour but by visit/service performed, so a consult is a consult whether it is 5 minutes or an hour, and hence, with their overhead, liability insuarnce bla bla, they learn to become what I call "five minute wonders"- "how are things going? here is a new prescription (with a commission for me to boot), see you in 3 months, bye". Frankly, I wish more docs would have an off insurance, pay upfront for service available for additional consults- or unlimited email queries- so that I can pay myself and get what I pay for instead of the "I pretend to pay (but really my insurance or the government does, and they pay for 5 minutes) and you pretend to serve me" approach.
Posted 6/4/2009 9:44 PM (GMT -7)
Hello all,

Thought I better get on here and clarify how I got to this point with my GI.

I was diagnosed with UP via a colonoscopy last May. Pretty good flaring through to December and so I got in for a few appointments with the GI to consult on different meds because the Pentasa wasn't working. As time went on, with varying degrees of some success, then set backs (like you've all experienced), I would phone and chat with the nurse on what was happening with me. She was always very accommodating and said if she could take these calls, it frees the doc up to visit with patients. If she wasn't available when I called, I'd leave a message and I'd get a call back within a day or two. We'd chat about the GI Stuff but often about other "stuff" as well. (just to set things straight, I wasn't calling everyday or anything like that) Thought we had a great rel'ship. I even dropped off some flowers and a card one day just to thank her for being so great to me.

I had an endoscopy performed about a month ago and she was instrumental in getting it done in a big hurry. Endoscopy according to the GI was clear except for a small hiatal hernia. I think at that point, he had enough of me because he was likely aware of my calls and the fact that she got me in quick. He was very abrupt after the procedure. I believe he thinks I'm wasting both his and his nurse's time because as far as he's concerned, I have nothing other than a moderate case of UP.

In the last 3 weeks or so I've had different things showing up in my bloodwork with my GP. I have low ferritin, slightly above "high normal" Lipase levels, occult blood in 2 of 3 stool samples, as well Helicobacter Pylori diagnosed from bloodwork. I've been telling my GI for months about my stomach pains, back pain, continuing bowel issues and he has always written it off to IBS.

Now in the last 3 weeks, I've likely left 8-10 messages asking if the nurse could call me to see if she has any words of wisdom...should I be getting another C-scope, seeing the GI, etc. I've also left a bit of info with regards to what my blood results have been so maybe that has scared them off.

Anyways just wanted to say that I just would have expected a phone call from her to explain the situation to me. I know she works for him, and if this is what he says, she has to follow his orders, and I totally understand this. But if she called me after my first phone call to her about my blood results and says make an appointment with the GI, no need for a c-scope or just tells me to get lost, I would have quit calling on the spot. I may be  persistent, but I'm not an ass.

My wife called me about the letter last night (I was out of town) and she decided to open the envelope. Kind of wish she would have called to ask me if I wanted her to open it...but that's another story. But after reading it tonight, the orders to not return any calls has come directly from him. I certainly would never hold a grudge against her because she is a wonderful lady and is only doing what her boss tells her to do. 

Sorry about the long post...just wanted to put it all out there. 

 

Posted 6/5/2009 12:09 AM (GMT -7)
A doctor wouldn't divorce you unless he/she believed he couldn't do anything beyond what he's done or that you're not satisfied with his care or diagnosis and it's time for you to move on.

Remember that he has to account for the tests, etc.....if his accounts of diagnosis don't jibe, then he might be getting questioned about it as well. In his mind, he diagnosed you and given you reasonable treatment.

Personally, I believe the nurse was out of line for her over-involvement with your situation and the doctor may have seen it as an abuse of his extension of care.

You could try the gastro clinic at St. B....but only after your GP has tone the other testing to make sure nothing else is going on.

I'm sure your GI won't have a problem to sent your files to whomever takes over your case. With a referral/request from your GP, the rest should be easier.

Not all doctors are good or attentive. I'm sure the usual way to divorce a patient is by letter. I did ask my doc if he's ever quit a patient and he said he has via a letter.

Specialists are that, specific in what they do....and their waiting lists can be long.

You definitely have something more complex than he's able to find....seems it may be a win/win situation if you can get in to see another GI who can get to the bottom of your issues.

quincy
Posted 6/5/2009 9:44 AM (GMT -7)
Guess I'll check in with the Admin lady at his office to confirm whether or not this is an official "divorce" letter or just a "quit calling my nurse looking for assistance" letter.

Perhaps as you say Quincy I may be better off looking elsewhere for help.

Posted 6/5/2009 10:03 AM (GMT -7)
Just got off the phone with the Admin lady and the GI has indicated no problem getting back in to see him as required.

It was just a "quit calling my nurse" letter.

Posted 6/5/2009 10:36 AM (GMT -7)
Ah, interesting....seems you know the way around finding out information!

In that case, the nurse could have called you and relayed the message that the doc was getting ticked at that fact. Maybe it was the quick endoscope that put him off the edge?

So....maybe it will be a good thing you get confirmation regarding your other tests done by the GP and see him a few more times to get more figured out.
Plus....you could have probably have asked the receptionist to get you in for an appointment. Maybe the nurse/receptionist boundaries were crossed as well....it's great she's so caring, however.

Hope it gets figured out.

q
Posted 6/5/2009 12:45 PM (GMT -7)
It sounds like maybe you got caught in some situation between the doc and the nurse, possibly having nothing to do with you!!

Imagine if she is being this generous with her time with many patients, but not getting done what he asks her to do...and she decided to "blame" you and the others. And he decides -- maybe not the best judgement, who says doctors will be good letter writers? -- to send out those letters to solve his problem with her.
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